Pocket knife handle



NOV- 10, 1953 Y w. w. LILLARD 2,658,272

POCKET KNIFE HANDLE Filed Oct. 9, 1950 l z5 40/ mi2/2:8 No

INVENTOR. WM. w. Ll LLARD Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE POCKET KNIFE HANDLE William W. Lillard, Beaumont, Calif.

Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,180

4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to knives such as are commonly carried on the person of the user, and it relates more specifically to means for compactly disposing in such knives devices for sharpening blades and other elements of the knives.

Often it is desirable or essential to the user that the blade of his knife have a keen cutting edge. This ordinarily calls for sharpening the blade just before and during its use, if the use is prolonged. The smallest knife blade sharpening stones in common use are bulkier than many pocket knives. There have been proposed blade sharpening devices permanently attached to some element of a knife. Such devices considerably increased the bulk of the knife and its manufacturing cost. Also, there have been proposed stiif abrasive stones of well known kinds to be inserted in grooves provided in outer handle elements of the knives. enough to not be objectionably bulky were very likely to be fractured during an ordinary use of the knives. They were objectionable also because of having a more or less grimy and unclean surface which often would soil a users hands or clothing.

It is one object of the present invention to provide for conveniently sharpening the blades of a knife means which include a sheath-like element of the knife and an abrasive element readily inserted in said sheath element and selffastened therein for easy withdrawal.- It is another object of my invention to provide in a pocket knife handle, an inexpensively constructed sheath-like element which does not increase the bulk of the handle appreciably.

It is another object of my invention to provide a sheath-like receptacle in a knife handle under a transparent molding strip portion thereof so constructed that an indicia-bearing card may bev readily inserted in said sheath element and permanently secured therein after the knife handle has left the factory.

A feature of my invention resides in the provision of means for securing coaction of a fiexible, resilient, blade-sharpening member having projecting abrasive teeth-like elements and a pocket knife having therein a sheath receptacle for receiving said member so that the teeth-like elements are pressed lightly against a wall element of the receptacle and cause a retaining action on the sharpening member.

Other objects and advantageous features of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Such stones if thin The present application is a continuation-inpart of my application for patent Ser. No. 715,078, filed December 9, 1946, which application has been abandoned since the filing date of the present application.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a pocket knife in which certain features of my improvement are embodied, certain indicia carried on an interiorly disposed element of the knife being shown in full lines since the indicia are clearly visible. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of the structure of Figure 1 along the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being omitted or broken away in part for sake of clarity. Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side view of a name-bearing cardmember effective to be self-attached in a sheath element of a knife structure such as that of Figure 1 after being inserted therein. Figure 4 is an enlarged, partial side veW of a metal side plate element of a pocket knife which may be employed in carrying out a feature of my invention related to the structure of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-section along the line 5--5 of Figure 4 and shows in phantom view a cooperative card element. Figure 6 is a side view, broken away in part, of Figure 3.' Figure 7 is an enlarged side view, broken away in part, which shows a name-bearing card member that may be used in certain cases advantageously to replace a similar card member shown in Figure 3. Figure 8 is an enlarged, partial side edge View of a blade sharpening abrasive device self attachable in a sheath in the knife structure of Figure 2. Figure 9 is an enlarged, partial plan View of the structure of Figure 8. Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a blade sharpening device which may advantageously replace the device of Figure 8 in some cases.

In Figures l and 2, certain of my improvements are shown embodied in a pocket knife generally designated as I0 which, except as is hereinafter pointed out, may be of well known construction. The knife I0 may include two usual soft metal side plates II and I2 and an intermediate plate I3 of soft metal such as brass. Between the side plates may be pivotally mounted two knife blades I4 and I 5 of well known construction on a steel pin member I6 which extends through the plates II, I2 and I3 at a point adjacent one end of the knife. The ends of the pin I6 terminate in metallic bolster members I1 and I8 strongly secured as by brazing to the adjacent ends (right ends as viewed in Figure 2) of the side plates and I2. The bolster members are further described hereinafter. To the other (left) ends of the side plates and I2 are secured bolster members 20 and 2|, respectively, which will be further described hereinafter. A metallic pin 22 may extend through the plates I I, I2 and I3 and terminate in the bolster members 20 and 2|.

Extending along the sides of the knife I between the bolster members I1 and 20 and between the bolster members I8 and 2| are molding strips 25 and 26, respectively. These strips may be made of suitable moldable material such.

as cellulose plastic materials known to the trade as Pyralin or Celluloid. The upper (as viewed in Figure 2) strip 25 may be of a suitable transparent material throughout or have a centrally disposed transparent section 25W arranged to serve as a window in a way and for a purpose to appear hereinafter, and the remainder of the strip may be opaque, if desired, In some cases the transparent window element 25W may be advantageously made of different material from the remainder of the strip. The strip 23 may be opaque throughout.

In the inwardly disposed face portion of the strip 25 is made a shallow lengthwise groove 21, preferably centrally disposed in the strip. When the strip 25 is in pla-ce next to the side plate there is formed a sheath or pocket-like receptacle 28 for a purpose presently to appear. In the molding strip 2i may be made a shallow groove similar to the groove 21 to form with the side plate I2 a sheath 30 which may be larger than Y the sheath 28 to advantage in some knives.

To provide an easily used mouth or inlet 3| for the sheath 28, the bolster I1 may be made with a chamfered, recessed portion 32 beginning at a point a short distance inwardly from the outer end of the bolster and declining toward the side plate I I at a point approximately even with the adjacent end of the molding strip 25. The left hand end (as viewed in Figure 2) of the sheath 28 is preferably closed by abutting against a square inner end of the bolster 20 which may be of usual construction. The bolster members I8 and 2| may be made with chamfered or beveled portions 35' and 36, respectively, which decline toward the side plate I2 at the ends of the strip 25 and form recessed inlets at each end thereof. The chamfered bolster portions 35 and 3B may be of substantially the same shape as that of the bolster portion 32 and be appropriately arranged as illustrated in Figure 2 to form a recessed inlet element for each end of the sheath 35. 'I'he ends of the pin Il may be slightly enlarged and finished flush with the inclined surfaces of the bolster portions I1 and I3. -The-adjacent end of the pin 22 is nnished ilush with the inclined bolster portion 36.

The molding strips 25 and 2B mayv be held tightly against the side plates and I2 by rivets 40 and 4| which pass through the strips on each side of the lengthwise groove in each strip and terminate in the side plates in a well known way. In addition to the rivets 40 and 4|, the molding strips 25 and 26 are further fastened by a usual blade-spring pin I2 at one side of the sheaths. It will be understood as the description proceeds that for the purposes of the present invention the molding strips 25 and 2li may be fastened to the side plates and I2, respectively, by any suitable devices which do not interfere with or limit the dimensions of the sheaths in the strips unnecessarily when the sheaths are used in ways soon to appear.

In carrying out one feature of my invention, I provide a composite card member generally designated as 50 which may be made up of a bottom sheet 5|, a second sheet 52 and a top sheet 53. The sheet 52 may be of any desired color and will preferably have written on its upper surface by the purchaser his signature and home address and if desired may also bear the name of the merchant who sells the knife, The sheet 53 is made of some transparent resilient materia-l such as cellulose of the brands known to the trade as Pyralin or Celluloid. The bottom sheet 5| may be made of some material such as ne grained emery cloth of well known construction which may have a roughened lower surface because of the granular particles 5| t held on its lower face. It will be understood by those skilled in the use of emery cloth that the granular, teethlike particles 5|t are spaced closer together than is indicated in Figure 6. One or all of the sheets 5|, 52 and 53 may be slightly resilient and have an arcuate form so that when the three sheets are cemented together in a well known way, the composite card 50 will normally (before assembled) have a slightly arcuate form as indicated in Figure 6 by the dot-and-dash outline of the card.

The card `5|) has a cross-section for fitting snugly in the sheath 23 but is preferably slightly shorter than the length of the sheath so that when its leading (left) end is inserted in the sheath through the inlet 3| and pushed up against the bolster 20, the opposite end is disposed inwardly a short distance from the inlet 3|. The card 50 may be pushed in the sheath past the inlet by any suitable device such as a flexible piece of paper card (not shown). The card 50 is held against the bolster 20 against displacement by severe jarring, for example, because of the digging or scratching engagement of the teeth-like particles 5|t with the soft metal of the side plate II. This engagement is made effective by the resilience of the straightened card 50 which tends to resume its arcuate form. Also, if desired, the right hand (as viewed in Figure 2) end of the sheet 53 may be easily cemented to the molding strip 25 and the resilience of the card 50 will be effective to press the sheet 53 against the molding strip and help secure a good cementing result. The cement (not shown) is preferably applied to the right hand end of the sheet 53 just before the card 50 is assembled in the sheath 28.

In some cases, it may be desirable to employ a name-bearing card 5U' such as is illustrated in Figure 7 wherein the sheets 52 and 53 are made and assembled as explained in connection with the structure of Figure 6. These sheets are then cemented over a sheet 5| which may be approximately the same as the sheet 5| except that the sheet 5|' has no roughened surface or granular teeth elements. Or the sheet 5| may be omitted and the sheet 52 be made extra thick and of suitable tough. strong material. Where a name-bearing card is made according to the showing of Figure 7 and the disclosure of the present paragraph is employed, a side plate II' such as is shown in Figure 5 may be provided and be of suitable metal and have minute teethlike elements IIt unless the card 50 is to be cemented to the molding strip 25 as explained hereinbefore in connection with the card 50. The teeth-like elements llt are eective to dig into or bite the card 50 and hold it against displacement from the sheath 28 since the straightened card is pressed against the teeth lit' because of its initial arcuate form and resilience.

To accomplish that important object of my invention which is to provide for blade sharpening purposes practicable, inexpensive means compactly assembled in a pocket knife to be easily removed to make possible a sharp cutting edge for the blades of the knife at any place or time the knife is to be used, an abrasive, flexible strip member 55 may have a width and thickness for fitting loosely in the sheath 3B.

As indicated in Figure 2, the length of the strip 55 is preferably such that it extends out a short distance beyond each end of the sheath 3i) but does not extend beyond or above the recess at each end of the sheath. The recessed bolster construction at each end of the knife is advantageous since it permits the assembling of a sharpening strip 55 in the knife which is considerably longer than would be possible if the strip extended out of the sheath only at one end. Also, the strip may be inserted or withdrawn from either end of the knife. While in the knife properly, neither end portion of the strip 55 affects i. e. increases the bulk of the knife. Also, the abrasive strip serves to brace and strengthen the thin portion of the molding strip 26 adjacent the sheath 3l).

The abrasive, blade sharpening strip 55 may be of any suitable construction so as to be flexible and to have on at least one side slightly projecting abrasive elements 55t which are effective to serve for blade sharpening purposes and for retaining the strip in the sheath 3i! by action of the elements 55t digging into or clawing the soft metal of the side plate I2. Such a retaining action while positive permits a light pull on the strip '55 by a nger of the user in a nger slot 56 to easily remove the strip from the sheath 3e. A strip of fine grained emery cloth (not shown) of well known construction will give reasonably good service in some cases. A sharpening strip Eil which includes strip members 5l and 62 of soft metal such as brass or bronze may have hammered into one or both side faces small particles of an abrasive material such as diamond dust or a hard refractory substance. Such a strip has some advantages which will be pointed further hereinafter in connection with a more specific description of the structure of Figure l0.

To make use of a sharpening strip constructed according to my invention, the strip is drawn from the sheath and is simply held against firm flat object by the users fingers of one hand, one finger at each end of the strip. With the other hand the knife blade is moved over the strip being pressed thereagainst in a Well known way as is ordinarily done with widely used small abrasive sharpening stones. In some cases it may be preferable to fasten each end of the strip to a small flat object by rubber bands or strings (not shown).

In many cases, it will be satisfactory to have the sharpening strip 55 made as is set forth in U. S. Patent No. 2,105,915. Sharpening devices made according to the disclosure of the above mentioned patent are known to the trade as Flexstones or Plastones. In this product called Flexstone, the sizes of the abrasive particles throughout a strip are approximately uniform in size. That is, the partly protruding particles on one side 'of 'a sharpening stone of Flexstone material or construction are of the same coarseness or fineness as those on the other side.

In most cases, it will be satisfactory and preferable to have abrasive, protruding particles 55t at least appreciably coarser than the abrasive particles 5515 on the other side of the strip. rIhis construction is advantageous since it will permit a user who ordinarily will have only one blade sharpening strip 55 sheathed in his knife handle to employ the coarse grained side of the strip for relatively fast sharpening of a dull blade and to employ the ner grained side for finishing the sharpening process and giving the blade a smoother cutting edge than would be practicable with the coarser grained side.

The provision of the recessed, upwardly inclined bolster portions at each end of the sheath 30 necessarily flexes sections of the strip '55 While in the sheath and urges some of the teethlike particles of the strip into strip-retaining engagement with the soft metal side plate I2. This retaining action may be increased by constructing the strip 55 to be slightly resilient and to have normally (when out of the sheath) a slightly arcuate form as is .indicated in Figure 8. Then when the strip is inserted in the sheath, the strip is mostly straightened into a flat form and the inherent resilience of the strip will increase the pressure of the projecting abrasive particles against the side plate I 2 and thus secure a self-fastening effect which is very advantageous.

It has been found in practice that a sharpening strip with relatively fine grain abrasive particles embedded inboth sides of the strip and having a small amount of resilience is retained in a sheath 30 in a pocket knife handle against displacement by forcible jarring endwise of the handle. Such a self-retaining action is obtained also where there is no inclined bolster inlet portion at the mouth or inlet proper of the sheath if the sharpening strip is resilient, flexible and slightly arcuate normally. Such a strip can be used advantageously where in a pocket knife embodying my invention there are metallic bolster parts at one end only of the knife, or which omits the bolster parts altogether.

In Figure 10 is illustrated a composite sharpening strip Sil which may include two soft metal, thin strips 6|, 62 fastened together by rivets (not shown) in a Well known way to the opposite sides of a thin strip 63 having considerable resilience such as spring steel. Soft metal such as brass or tin used in the thin strips Bl and 62 is quite flexible and if the steel strip 53 is slightly arcuate normally, the Whole composite strip 6i] normally will have the arcuate form approximately as is illustrated by the dot-and-dash outline in Figure l0. Such an arcuate form is usually desirable for the reasons stated hereinbefore in connection with the strip of Figure 8. Into the exposed face of the strip 6| may be hammered, i. e. embedded in a well known way particles 6Ic of diamond dust or other hard abrasive material. Into the exposed face of the strip 62 may be hammered, i. e. embedded in a well known way, particles Blf of hard abrasive material which may be finer, i. e. smaller in size than the particles Sie for the reasons explained hereinbefore in connection with sharpening a dull knife blade rst on the side of an abrasive strip sharpening strip having somewhat coarser abrasive elements than are carried on the other side of the strip. The strip 60 being an all metal 7 strip is able to withstand things such as heat better than the strip 50.

It can be readily seen that several minor changes in the shape and dimensions of certain of the parts illustrated in the drawings may be made without involving invention. For example. the recessed element of the bolster i1 may be chamfered from the end of the molding strip out onlytoapoint half waytothe pin I6.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a pocket knife, a handle including two metal side plates, a metallic bolster member secured to each end of said plates on the outwardly disposed face thereof, a molding strip permanently fastened to the outer face of each of said side plates between the bolster members thereon, a. cavity formed in each of said molding strips lengthwise thereof and positioned inwardly from the outer surface of the associated molding strip, an inlet for each of said cavities adjacent an end of the associated molding strip, said inlets each including a recess formed in the adjacent bolster to have an inwardly disposed surface inclined inwardly toward the adjacent end of the associated cavity.

2. A pocket knife or the like including, a handle having two metal lateral side plates, bolster elements providing blade pivot bearings covering the ends of the outer sides of said lateral side plates, at least one of said bolster elements being chamfered to provide an inclined surface tapering to the inner end thereof thereby providing a substantially continuous surface with the outer surface of the lateral side plate which it engages, a. molding strip extending between said chamfered bolster element and the bolster element at the other end of said lateral side plate, said molding element having a longitudinal recess in its inner face cooperating with the outer tace of the adjoining lateral side plate to form a cavity thereby providing a sheath like structure having an opening adjacent to the inclined chamfered surface of the bolster element for the reception of indicia bearing cards, abrasive knife blade sharpening strips or the like, and means for securing said molding strip to the lateral side plate in areas which contact the plate.

3. A pocket knife or the like including, a handle having two metal lateral side plates, bolster elements providing blade pivot bearings covering the ends of the outer sides of said lateral plates, with a plurality of said bolster elements, at least one on each side being chamfered to provide inclined surfaces tapering to the inner ends of the bolster elements thereby providing substantially continuous surfaces with the outer surfaces of the lateral side plates which they engage, molding strips extending between said bolster end elements on each of said lateral side plates, said molding strips each having a longitudinal recess in its inner face cooperating with the outer face of the lateral side plate which it engages to form a cavity thereby providing a sheathlike structure having an opening adJacent to the inclined chamfered surface of the bolster element, said molding strips being of transparent material enabling indicia bearing cards, abrasive strips or the like to be seen therethrough, and means for securing said molding strips to the lateral side plates in areas which contact the plates.

4. A pocket knife or the like including, a handle having two metal lateral side plates, bolster elements having chamfered inner ends, a molding strip extending over each of said side plates between the holsters, each of said molding strips having a. longitudinal recess in its inner face cooperating with the outer face of the lateral side plate to form a cavity thereby providing a sheath like structure having an endwise entrance opening therein for the reception of indicia bearing cards, abrasive knife blade sharpening strips or the like, and means for securing said molding strips to the lateral side plates in areas which contact the plates between the chamfered portions of the bolster elements.

WILLIAM W. LILLARD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 638,555 Burton Dec. 5, 1899 884,030 Morton Apr. "I, 1908 916,630 Timmons Mar. 30, 1909 1,232,886 Boston July 10, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,216 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1894 

